Not Your Grandma’s ASL New signs emerge from the next generation

Carla Warnock has her hand to her ear in a “y” shape as one might have held a phone in the 1970s, demonstrating an old-fashioned sign. Next, she reveals the new sign for phone. Not surprisingly, it looks much like someone holding a cell phone. Warnock is a RID-certified (certified by Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) San Diego resident who has interpreted for the United Nations, various musicians and choruses, and in educational settings. She is proficient in Pro-Tactile Sign, the specialty handover-hand sign language for people who are deaf and blind. Since Warnock often works with youth, she does her best to stay current in sign language interpretation, including colloquialisms and newer technology.

Third grade student, Alexis and teacher of the Deaf, Keri Gravette from Davila Day School are signing the phrase, “Let’s connect.”

Davila Day School is a K-6 specialized school for students with hearing loss.

Warnock explains that most newer signs are reflective of young deaf culture, including social media, tech and where youth hang out. New signs may initially be finger-spelled (signing each individual letter), but gradually evolve, sometimes based on Visual Gestural Communication cues, like the signs for scrolling an iPad or combinations of other signs such as the sign for Switch (finger-spelled Nintendo + a gesture for the switch controller) or iced coffee (ice + coffee).

“There are five parameters of American Sign Language (ASL): hand shape, palm orientation, location, motion and non-manual markers,” she explains. “I understand my brother because he has taken the time to learn sign language, but his accuracy isn’t always spot on.”

Accuracy is paramount because it affects the meaning of words and comprehension. Whether a hand points up or down, or where it is placed on the face or body can change the meaning drastically, as can facial expressions (a non-manual marker). Molina demonstrates by signing, “That’s hot!” with a look of concern, meaning that something might burn you; and then, “That’s hot!” with a wry smile and a raised eyebrow, meaning something is aesthetically appealing or new and intriguing.

Signs evolve as new concepts and trends become more popular. Facebook is simply signed “FB.” Starbucks went from being finger-spelled to having its own sign, as did “boba tea” and the slang term, “yeet.” As for other slang terms, Warnock demonstrates the sign “shine, shine” (two stars) for “bling, bling,” and pops an invisible collar with an air of cheekiness for “flossin” (acting showy).

Teens today lean toward more inclusive language. For instance, the sign for parents used to be a combination of the signs for mom and dad. Typically, male signs begin from the nose up and female signs from the nose down. New signs have emerged starting at the cheekbone so that all types of families are included.

Molina explains that culture plays a part in new signs—where you live, where you grew up, where you go to school and race can all determine how your sign evolves. BASL (Black American Sign Language) is very specific to the Black or African American experience and should not be imitated or culturally appropriated. Areas of the country are influenced by deaf immigrant culture, the weather and even transportation, so regional signs exist. Much like Indigenous Americans have many words for snow, there are at least four signs for pizza. Whether kids attend a deaf school or are fully included into a neighborhood school can affect how personal signs develop, as deaf schools have their own communications styles, jokes and colloquialisms.

Lily Molina is a deaf Cal State San Marcos student who has worked as an interpreter at Cabrillo National Monument.

Griselle Ramirez is a parent mentor at Lead-K Family Services, an early detection and intervention program for deaf families, and the mom of Joey (age 10), who is deaf and fully mainstreamed in a typical school. Joey has a hearing aid, but has utilized an ASL interpreter in his classroom since preschool. During recess he is on his own, so he can learn to communicate with hearing children without the interference of an adult in the socialization process. This allows him to learn the evolving language of hearing peers. Joey also lives in a diverse language environment, as his family speaks Spanish and English and uses ASL. Ramirez says that fingerspelling has helped Joey have better writing skills and vocabulary.

Ramirez suggests that ASL has changed as a result of the pandemic and the rise of Zoom learning. Signing sites now share signs such as “mute,” “unmute,” “shared screen” and “breakout rooms.” Zoom has allowed kids to take advantage of online interpretation of many languages through various connecting programs and devices.

Molina asks that parents and educators don’t just learn new signs, but also adopt more inclusive practices and language. She wishes everyone would get rid of terms like “hearing impaired” and adopt the empowered reframing and storytelling of Ryan Commerson, who is a marketing specialist and deaf advocate. He believes even the word “deaf” has run its course.

Commerson’s writings are fierce: “I don’t hear. I am untapped. I am inherently powerful. I am natural.”

As Warnock says, “New signs always start with deaf individuals. I follow their lead.” This is certainly not your grandma’s ASL. We are letting the new generation pave the way. As ASL evolves, so do we. v

Emily Dolton is a local mom of two, one with 22q 11.2 Deletion Syndrome.